Meet Brent LaBrada of CANIS Behavior and Training

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brent LaBrada.

Hi Brent, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in San Bernardino, California, in a pretty unique environment surrounded by animals. My neighbors had goats, chickens, and horses, and between my family and my grandmother, who regularly rescued animals, we were always around dogs. At any given time, there were well over a dozen dogs between our homes. That exposure gave me an early, unfiltered look at animal behavior. It was everything from well-balanced dogs to fearful, territorial, and even aggressive ones.

One defining moment for me happened when I was nine years old. Dogs entered our property and attacked our pets, and I lost two of my own dogs in that incident. At the time, I felt completely helpless. Looking back, that experience planted a seed. It created a strong desire to one day be in a position where I could actually help dogs and prevent situations like that, without limitations like age, knowledge, or resources holding me back.

At 18, while attending college in Los Angeles, I started volunteering at animal shelters. I was studying film at the time, but I found myself spending all my free time working with dogs by exercising them, building trust, and helping them become more adoptable. I didn’t realize it then, but I was doing the early work of rescue and rehabilitation. That experience showed me how many dogs ended up in shelters for very fixable reasons. Often, it was a lack of structure, training, or understanding in the home.

That realization led me to seek mentorship, and I was fortunate to spend the next decade training under a mentor who taught me not just dog training, but also business, leadership, and what real rescue work looks like. During that time, I helped grow his company and played a key role in opening a second location.

After the company was acquired by a corporation, I saw a shift in values and quality that didn’t align with the work we had built. I made the decision to leave, and with the support of my clients and team, I started my own company, CANIS Behavior & Training.

We started small, out of my one-bedroom apartment, and gradually grew into a full operation: from renting a home, to hiring staff, to building a team. Today, we operate out of a 1,300-square-foot facility with over 30 employees. What’s especially meaningful is that our current location is the same place where I first learned to be a dog trainer nearly two decades ago. Being able to return to that space and rebuild it into something that reflects my vision has been incredibly rewarding.

I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but more than anything, I’m focused on continuing to grow, improve, and make a meaningful impact for both dogs and the people who care for them.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No road is ever entirely smooth. Most adventures are a good mix of ups and downs. Throughout my journey, I’ve found value in every stage of my development: as a dog trainer, a coach, a teacher, a manager, an entrepreneur, a business owner and most importantly, as a human being. All of this has helped solidify my mission to help dogs and my community. I’ve made a consistent effort to stay present in each role, embracing the lessons they offer so I can both meet their responsibilities and remain true to who I am.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CANIS Behavior and Training?
Our mission at CANIS is to become synonymous with Animal Education in the city of Los Angeles. Dogs have been our companions for thousands of years and they we believe they deserve advocacy. The world has changed around them while their breeding and genetics have stayed the same. It’s important that we educate dog owners to get to know their dogs as they are and help them to lead the lives they were born to lead. Our mission is to bring back balance to the way we love dogs, treat dogs, and raise dogs.

We teach people about their dog’s behavior and we teach dogs to understand the things that humans want from them. We’re kind of like relationship counselors for dogs and their people. Making sure both sides get what they need so they can have a healthy relationship and coexist peacefully.

What sets us apart from others is our love for people and our love for animals are equal. We strive to make people feel supported when working with their dogs.

I’m proud that people recognize the mission we’re trying to accomplish. I’m proud to see when our clients can feel the consistency between our values and our culture/brand. It makes me proud because it is difficult to see the whole company culture and trust each other enough to live by that company culture. It’s also difficult to find and keep good people who believe in the same things that the company stands for, so I’m proud to see when that connection is created.

I want people to know that any small problem that you might have with your dog, it’s worth asking for ways to solve them. Little behaviors turn into big behaviors very quickly, so don’t wait for the behavior to be out of control or unmanageable to call a dog trainer. It’s important to call us when the problem is small so we can guide you towards making certain the problem goes away. We have a variety of services that are guaranteed to provide you with solutions and results as long as you and your family are willing to commit to the process and your dog.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Our industry is growing because less people are getting married and having children and still want companionship. Dogs and cats tend to be the companion of choice so its going to continue to grow. We believe that dog education and behavior needs to also grow with the industry. A lot of dog trainers don’t have the knowledge or the capacity to teach at the scale that we can teach. The goal for the next 5 years is to be able to expand our ability to teach, coach and educate the public.

We plan to achieve this through the development of several CANIS satellite locations across the Los Angeles area. These hubs will allow us to provide accessible, high-quality education to local communities that focus on behavior-based training that helps dogs learn the lifestyles their owners aspire to lead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://canisdogtraining.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canisbehavior/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CANISBEHAVIOR/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CANISBEHAVIOR
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/canis-behavior-and-training-tarzana
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@canisbehavior

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